Police launch criminal investigation into MPs’ child sex ring

Martin Hickman

Following stints with Reuters and the Press Association, Martin Hickman joined The Independent as a news editor in 2001. He became the Consumer Affairs Correspondent in September 2005 and has run the paper's trenchant campaigns on packaging, bank charges and factory-farmed chicken. He writes on subjects as diverse as food, finance, energy and fashion. With Tom Watson, he is author of a new book on the phone hacking scandal, Dial M for Murdoch - News Corporation and the Corruption of Britain.

Scotland Yard tonight launched a full investigation into allegations that Conservative politicians were members of a paedophile ring which abused children in care the 1980s.

Operation Fernbridge will centre on the alleged historic sexual abuse of children at Elm Guest House, in Rocks Lane, a suburban street in Barnes, south-west London.

Residents of a nearby care home run by Richmond Council claim they were sexually assaulted at the property by a network of prominent individuals, including Tory MPs, who used their connections to escape justice.

The allegations are one of several lines of inquiry being considered by specialist detectives at the country’s biggest force as a result of information supplied to them by Labour MP Tom Watson.

In a surprise intervention in the Commons in October, Mr Watson - who alleged widespread phone hacking at the News of the World before police began a new inquiry - urged Scotland Yard to re-open the evidence file on Peter Righton, a former child care consultant who was convicted of importing illegal homosexual pornography in 1992.

Saying that the file contained “clear intelligence of a widespread paedophile ring”, Mr Watson said at Prime Minister’s Questions: “One of its members boasts of a link to a senior aide of a former Prime Minister, who says he could smuggle indecent images of children from abroad.

“The leads were not followed up, but if the files still exist, I want to ensure that the Metropolitan Police secure the evidence, re-examine it, and investigate clear intelligence suggesting a powerful paedophile network linked to Parliament and No 10.”

In secret. five officers on the Met’s Child Abuse Investigation team began a scoping exercise, Operation Fairbank, to see if the MP’s claims merited further inquiry.

Working in secret at Empress State Building in Earl’s Court, London, they interviewed several adults who had contacted Mr Watson with information until December, when police confirmed the existence of the inquiry.

Tonight Scotland Yard confirmed the scoping exercise had reached sufficient seriousness that it passed “the threshold for a criminal investigation” and announced the creation of Operation Fernbridge.

Scotland Yard would not say how many officers are staffing Operation Fernbridge.

It is being run by the Specialist Crimes and Operations Directorate, which is known for tackling complex crime and which investigated phone hacking and other illicit newsgathering tactics that had previously escaped serious scrutiny by the police.

In a short statement, Scotland Yard said: “The Metropolitan Police Service have today, Thursday 17 January, launched an investigation, Operation Fernbridge, into historic allegations of child abuse in the early 1980s at the Elm Guest House, Rocks Lane, Barnes, London.

“The investigation will be led by the Child Abuse Investigation Command.”

The statement went on: “The allegations under Operation Fernbridge were initially assessed under Operation Fairbank which was information passed to police by MP Tom Watson. Operation Fernbridge reached the threshold for a criminal investigation.

“We will not be providing a running commentary on this inquiry.”

The police stressed that the allegations were historic and did not relate to the current occupants of the property, which has been under new ownership for some time.

A spokeswoman for the Met confirmed that Operation Fairbank would remain in existence and concentrate on other lines of inquiry provided by Mr Watson, who has been in regular contact with detectives. Those other lines of inquiry also involve politicians.

Last night Mr Watson said: “This new criminal investigation is welcome news. I am confident that the Operation Fairbank team are committed to a thorough investigation that leaves no stone left unturned. As they get nearer the truth it is vital they are given the time and space to conduct the investigation without interference.

“I urge any witnesses or victims to come forward if they think they can help with the inquiry. No matter what has happened in the past, now is the time for your voice to be heard.”

The Metropolitan Police asked anyone with information to call its hotline on 020 7161 0500.